Anthony Bennett takes the crown as the worst NBA player of all time, thanks to his epic flameout as the No. 1 overall pick in 2013 who barely scraped together four forgettable seasons. Dude averaged under 5 points a game and became a punchline for draft busts everywhere.
Why Bennett Tops the Bust List
Picked first by the Cavs ahead of studs like Giannis and Rudy Gobert, Bennett showed up out of shape and vanished quick—2.7 PPG across 160 games before bouncing to Minnesota, Toronto, and Brooklyn. Fans roast him for turning a golden ticket into G-League filler; he couldn’t shoot, defend, or even grab boards at pro levels despite college hype at UNLV. It’s not just stats—his total non-impact on winning teams cements the “worst ever” tag, worse than short-career flops since expectations were sky-high.
Other Epic Draft Disasters
Michael Olowokandi, the 1998 top pick, edges Dirk and Pierce but posted 8.3 PPG over nine years with zero playoff buzz—lazy effort and no post game tanked him. Greg Oden’s injury curse cut his Blazers reign short after No. 1 hype, barely hitting 8 PPG before knees gave out. Rafael Araujo, 8th in 2004, gifted Toronto two years of 2.9 PPG misery right before Andre Iguodala went next—brutal draft theft.
Long-Haul Losers Who Stuck Around
Michael Ruffin hung nine seasons on hustle alone, but his 1.7 PPG on 41% shooting screams “replacement level”—finished with 0.5 PPG in Portland like a fan could hoop better. Subs like these ate minutes without touching the stat sheet, dragging teams while cashing checks. Modern flops like Quenton Jackson or Luka Garza hover negative value per analytics, but vets like them at least grind.
What Makes “Worst” So Tricky
Stats geeks point to negative Win Shares or PER under 5, but eye test rules—busts hurt more from squandered picks. Short-timers like one-game wonders qualify too, but Bennett’s prime spot plus zero growth seals it. No All-Star nods, no rings, just memes. Context matters: era, position, and minutes played shift debates, but high picks failing hardest sting deepest. In a star-driven league, irrelevance equals infamy.
Sam, a dedicated blogger, has immersed himself in the world of content creation for the past five years. His journey reflects a profound passion for storytelling and insightful commentary. Beyond the digital realm, Sam is a devoted NBA enthusiast, seamlessly blending his love for sports with his writing pursuits.